Former Pakistani captain Hanif Mohammad has said he believes that it is important for coach Dav Whatmore to learn Urdu in order to have better communication and success with the Pakistani players. Whatmore had to face a lot of attack and criticism after Pakistan suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the Test series in South Africa, and for failing to ensure that the team was motivated enough to take any of the matches into the fifth day, Sport24 reports.
Mohammad said that since a majority of the Pakistani players are unable to communicate or speak fluent English, it is important for Whatmore to learn their common language Urdu in order to convey his sentiments, feelings, advice and commands properly. The former captain said that although he does not place the blame for Pakistan’s defeat in South Africa entirely on Whatmore, he felt that a coach would never be able to communicate properly with a player in a language which the player is not fluent in, or through an interpreter.
Mohammad, who played 55 Tests for Pakistan, added that it is important for a coach to communicate properly with his players so that they can adapt and execute his commands precisely. South Africa was Pakistan”s second straight Test series defeat since Whatmore took over as coach in March last year. They were also beaten in Sri Lanka. The first of a two-match T20 series against South Africa starts in Durban on Friday, followed by a five-match ODI series next week, the report added. (ANI)